The Governor's Climate
Change Policy Task Force will be holding a
public listening session
on February 19, 2008,
from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00p.m.
in Representatives Hall
at the Statehouse in Concord, New Hampshire The purpose of the listening session is to provide an opportunity for citizens to offer input on the state's Climate Change Action Plan, which is currently being developed and must be submitted to Governor Lynchby September 1, 2008.
For more information

 NOFA-NH  Sixth Annual
Winter Conference 
The Northeast Organic
Farming Association of
New Hampshire's 6th Annual Winter Conference: Local And Organic: The Sustainable Future, Saturday March 1, 2008 at the Winnisquam Regional
High School, 433 W. Main Street in Tilton, New Hampshire from
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 pm.
Real Green Goods will be
a vendor there.
NOFA-NH Calendar

 Heidi of
Heidi's Plant Pep, will be hosting an Organic Planting seminar in March. Plans are still being developed, so please call or email us for more details in the coming weeks.

Earth Day
is Saturday April 19
this year. Stay tuned as
events are planned, or
offer any creative ideas
that you might have for
this special day.

Power-down your connected electrical devices with the remote-controlled "Bye Bye Standby" and save up to 15% on your electric bill. Also new, made from recycled tires, snow tire traction mats!

   Buying local is finally getting the attention it deserves. Approximately 60 cents of every dollar spent in local stores stays in Concord, while only 6 cents spent at big box stores and 20 cents spent at chain stores stays in Concord. Local businesses usually pay better and offer better benefits to their employees. A nice comprehensive list of the "Top Ten Reasons to Buy Local" is provided at sConnect.org

For example, the local high school senior needs ads for the year book and  where do they go first? Downtown of course. The local non-profit needs donations for an upcoming raffle event, and where do they go... to local independently owned stores. While these are basic examples, it is easy to understand the huge impact this makes on communities.

    Buying local also results in a more sustainable community from both environmental and economical stand points. Local businesses buy from more local suppliers which cuts down on transportation and packaging lessening the environmental impact. Local businesses are traditionally better stewards of the earth since they live here and are part of the community. Buying local also maintains the economics of the community. Like the well-known recycle triangle icon, you can see how "think local, buy local, be local" also works in a chasing triangle, repeating itself to promote a sustainable, healthy and happy community.

    In the possible looming recession, please consider supporting your locally owned independent businesses. Main Streets have had their ups and downs over the years because of the expansion of big box shopping. Main Streets are a source of local pride and an integral part of community spirit. Show your love for the community and shop at local independently owned businesses when possible. They care, they offer quality and excellent service, and above all, they think local, they buy local and they are local.

("Think, Buy, and Be Local" comes courtesy of Sustainable Connections)

   At RGG, we continue to spread the word about the
dangers of plastic. Last summer Scandinavian scientists
found that twice as many girls as boys are being born in
the Arctic. "A World Without Men", Read Article, examines the decline in the number of  baby boys born each year as scientists  focus on synthetic chemicals,
phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA),  which are endocrine disruptors found in plastic that mimic female hormones.

   And more on Plastics - "Disappearance of Indigenous
Baby Boys Tied to Industrial Pollution", Read Article,
draws attention to the connection between skewed sex
ratios with exposure to PCB and other chemicals when it
states that in one arctic tribal village, there were enough
girls for three baseball teams, but not enough boys for
even one team. 

   For more about the toxic phthalates that babies are
exposed to in shampoos, lotions, and powder, a new
study appearing in the Feb. issue of the Journal of
Pediatrics states that the babies who had been recently
shampooed, powdered, or lotioned with baby products
had elevated levels of phthalates in their urine, chemicals
having links to reproductive problems. Read more

We have "Double Certified" (Certified Organic and
Certified Fair Trade) chocolate with a premier company.
Bite In for our website and the delicious Art Bar. 
And we have newly designed eco-jewelry made from
recycled silver.

    Badger Balm, especially useful during these dry-skin
months, is made with 70-100% Certified Organic ingredients in all of their products. Phthalate-free Badger Baby Care products are also available. See Here

   Trillium Organics Body and Face Polish are new additions to our personal care products which already include Arghand Soap from Afghanistan and Vermont Soap Organics which offers phthalate-free Baby Aloe Bar Soap. See Here

   Have you ever thought of where your discarded computer, cell phone, or TV ends up? This so called "e-waste" may be shipped to a poor developing nation like Ghana where deadly toxins sicken the people there as they attempt to strip and recycle the components. The shocking story of this "High-tech Trash" is examined in the January 2008 issue of National Geographic. These electronic devices contain multiple "e-hazards" and health risks from lead, PVC, mercury, and more. One disturbing photograph shows a man in New Delhi smelting lead from circuit boards in the same pot used for cooking the family meal. Read Now

   In case you missed this TV documentary on the National
Geographic Channel, you may view video clips at this site.
"Six Degrees Could Change the World," portrays the effects
of One Degree of warming as the average global temperature rises. Watch Now

Follow up -  regarding last month's workshop here at RGG
about wood pellet heating, this is an extensive consumer
guide to energy efficiency. Energy Guide

Thank you for reading and for caring about the environment. And, as we say at Real Green Goods. Have a Green Day!